Collapsible tube



Jan. 15, 1963 R. s. scHULTz coLLA'PsIBLE TUBE Filed Feb. 28, 1961 fig -If/I /7 if /f :Ill-I. x

mn n?. INVENTOR. /Qf/U 5759/1/51/ SKA/M TZ BY W rra/@VHS nhce 3,073,485v CLLAPSIBLE TUBEY Robert Stephen Schultz, Somerville, NJ., assignor toAmerican Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey FiledFeb. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 92,236 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-92) This inventionrelates to metal tubes, such as those used for packaging tooth paste,and to the provision of protective means for said tubes preventingcontamination ofthe product bythe metal of the tube. Itis known, forexample, that certain products attack the metal of the tube with resultswhich may cause discoloration of the product or even toxicity thereof.In order to prevent such reaction it is customary to provide aprotective layer or coating on the tube interior, and to attach anonmetallic dispensing neck or spout to the tube as i1lustrated in U.S.Patent 2,122,325. The spout is usually premolded of plastic material, isattached to the tube breast, by swaging a ange of the breast thereover,and is so formed as to present a threaded exterior to receive the tubecap and provide non-contaminating surfaces adjacent the exit point ofthe tube so that product remnants trapped in the cap and necesarilybrought thus into contact with the neck threads will not becomediscolored thereby.

I-t is apparent that the nature of making .the connection of the spoutwith the container is somewhat complicated mechanically, results inrather an irregular exterior appearance to the tube breast which makesbreast decoration diiiicult or impossible, and generally results incostly tube assembly procedures, impairment of tube appearance, or both.v

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to providea anon-metallic threaded surface at the neck of a metal tube in a mannersuch that the same can be readily and easily placed in automaticfashion, and in a manner which will permit ready decoration of the tubebreast. lt isA also an object of the invention to accomplish the aboveresults in a way which will generally not detract from the appearance ofthe assembly, or perhaps even enhance it. l

i The foregoing object -is achieved according to the present inventionby forming the tube withv an integral metal neck portion of somewhatthinner Wall than that ordi-- narily used, and providing a preformedplastic shroud attachment or outsert embracing and supported by the neckportion and carrying the .threads or other cap connecting means on itsexterior surface. The outsert is molded yof somewhat resilient materialand the tube neck portion and outsert are provided with cooperatingoutline features whereby the outsert may merely be positioned overtheneck portion and snapped into place.v 'Ihe'reare also provided on theneck portion and outsert cooperating features which defeat any tendencyof the outsert to rotate on the neck during placement or removal of thecap. Y

Additional objects, features and advantages will appear hereinafter lasthe description-proceeds in the drawing: I

FIG. 1 is a rag-mentary elevation of the upper end o a complete tu-beassembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper end of a metal tubewith the outsert removed and showing the improved neck portion shaped toreceive the outsert; v

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 3--3 of FIG.1; v

FIG. 4 is an axial section .to a larger scale, taken substantially online 4-4 of FIG. 3;

Referring' to the drawing, numeral 11 indicates a col-v lapsible metaltube of the type normally formed of lead,

aluminum or tin by impact extrusion and designed .to package anddispense paste or cream products. The tube is equipped with anintegrally formed breast 13 and neck portion t5. The tip of the neckportion 15'has an exterior toothed formation providing a large number ofclosely arranged axial utes 17. Just below the ends of the utes isprovided a retaining ring 19 preferably hav-ing -a slop; ing upper camsurface 21 and defining just beneath itself an annular groove 23. ltwill be noted that the coniigu ration oi the neck portion is such thatit can be readily formed on conventional tube making machinery, theflutes i7 and cam surface 21 being shaped coincidentally with the impactextrusion operation, and the groove 23 being f turned coincidentallywith the customary trimming operaL tion on the tube. v

An outsert Z5 for attachment to the tube 11 includes a sleeve portion 27and an inturned top ange Z9. The sleeve portion Z7 is of a size toclosely embrace the neck portion 15 of the tube and has on its innersurface a series of teeth or projections 33 corresponding in size andspacing to the flutes 1'7, the lower end of each projection beingrounded oli as indicated at 35, FIGS. 4 and 5. Below the ends of theprojections is provided an inwardly extending locking bead 37 designedto pass over the retaining ring Il@ with an interfering fit and snapinto place in the groove 23. y

The outsert 25. is made of inert vmaterial of somewhat resilient nature,any of various synthetic resinous r'nate riala such asthe polyoleiinsbeing suitable, and is prefer'a ably of a length and coniguration suchthat its lower end will rest against -the upper surface of the tubebreast 1,3 when the outsert is in place.

The upper flange 29 of the outsert is` preferably so located as tol comeinto Contact with the upperend ofy the tube neck portion substantiallyat the same time that noted that the breast 13 Yis of customary conicalform l and is free of bulges or flanges related tothe `attaching of theplastic outsert 25. Consequently ordinary coating equipment, such as theconventional breast-coating rollers,

can be used to secure the usually-required external breast decoration.Breasts of the swage-con'nection :type must normally be leftuncoated'duc to economic"considerations If the outsert 25 is of amatching color with thebr'ea-st de corationit will lend a remarkableappearance of unity with the breast. Exceptional decorativeelieetscairf'also be `achie'v/ed'by coatingy the breast with ac'olofrlsuitably 'related' to the color of the outsert, eitherdifferentl 'but similar, or sharply contrasting. Y 5

'In operation, the ttibe'll s formed byy impactextrusion and trimmedandgroovedA to provide the resultshowh in PIG. 2, an interioicoating 41preferably -beir'gprfvided. The exterior vsurface includingA the breast13 is decorated in customary fashion. Outserts 25 are formed, as byinjection molding, using material of the desired color. An outsert 25 isthen placed over the neck portion 15 of a tube 11 and is installedmerely by akstraight push against the outer end while the tube is heldonfa` The cam surface 21 y spreads the bead 37 slightly and it presentlysnaps into groove 23 where it is substantially locked against resuitablemandrel (not shown).

f 3,073,485g Patented Jail.y 15, y1963A moval. It is especially pointedout that because of the large plurality of iiutes 17 extending about theneck portion with uniform spacing, as well as the rounded inner ends 35of the teeth, the placing of the outsert over the neck portion is allthat is required. Because of these features and relationships the partswill not require rotational orientation but seek their own propermeshing position. Accordingly, the assembly is very simple and readilylends itself to accomplishment by usual automatic hoppering techniques.While the number of flutes and teeth are shown as exactly corresponding,it will be understood that the number of teeth may be a fraction of thenumber of flutes and be equally spaced about the periphery with anangular spacing equal to a whole number of ute spacings, and that theutes and teeth may be placed on the opposite members if desired andstill achieve the same result without impairing the effectiveness of therelationship so far as automatic assembly is concerned. For convenienceany one of these described arrangements may be referred to as a 360degree assemblable mutual interiitting relationship, and they will be soreferred to hereinafter.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, andarrange ment of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. The combination of a collapsible tube unit comprising a metal bodyhaving a breast and neck portion integrally formed therewith, and anoutsert of resilient plastic material attached to said tube unit, andembracing, overlying and enclosing the neck portion thereof, saidoutsert being seated at one end upon said breast portion and at itsopposite end upon said neck portion, preformed toothed means on saidneck portion and outsert providing a 360 degree assemblable mutualintertitting relationship between the outer surface of said neck portionand the inner surface of said outsert, preventing relative rotationthereof, and means providing a snap-together locking connection betweensaid outsertand said neck portion.

2. The combination of a collapsible tube unit comprising a metal bodyhaving a breast and neck portion integrally formed therewith, and anoutsert of resilient plastic material attached to said tube unit, saidneck portion and outsert being substantially coextensive in length withthe latter embracing, overlying and enclosing the former, said outsertbeing seated at one end upon said breast portion and at its opposite endupon said neck portion, preformed toothed means on said neck portion andoutsert providing a 360 degree assemblable mutual interfittingrelationship between the outer surface of said neck portion and theinner surface of said outsert, preventing relative rotation thereof, andmeans providing a snap-together locking connection between said outsertand said neck portion.

3. The combination of a collapsible tube unit comprising a metal bodyhaving a breast and neck portion integrally formed therewith, and anoutsert of resilient plastic material attached to said tube unit, saidneck portion and outsert being substantially coextensive in length withthe latter embracing, overlying and enclosing the former, said outsertbeing seated at one end upon said breastportion and at its opposite end`upon said 4 neck portion, preformed toothed means on said neck portionand outsert providing a 360 degree assemblable mutual interiittingrelationship between the outer surface of said neck portion and theinner surface of said outsert, preventing relative rotation thereof, andmeans providing a snaptogether locking connection between said outsertand said neck portion including an inwardly extending locking bead onthe inner surface of said outsert and a retaining ring on the outersurface of said neck portion, said locking bead and retaining ringhaving interfering dimensions and being positioned to snap into lockingrelationship when the outsert reaches its seated position on said neckportion.

4. The combination of a collapsible tube unit comprising a metal bodyhaving a breast and neck portion integrally formed therewith, the outersurface of said neck portion including a set of flute elementsthereabout,

an outsert of resilient plastic material attached to the` tube unit andincluding a sleeve portion embracing, over-` lying and enclosing theneck portion of the tube unit, said outsert being seated at one end uponsaid breast portion and at its opposite end upon said neck portion, saidoutsert including a set of tooth elements on the inner surface of thesleeve portion interchangeably mesh able with said flute elements, atleast one of said sets of elements being closely and equally spacedabout its corresponding portion, and means providing a snaptogetherlocking connection between said outsert and neck portion.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which the outsert includesan inwardly extending ange at its upper end overlying and concealing theupper end of the neck portion. v

6. A combination as set out in claim 4 in which one of said sets ofelements includes a smooth lead-in configuration at the entering endwhere meshing begins during assembly to provide for automaticallyguiding the elements into meshing relationship.

7. As a new article of manufacture and sale, a preformed outsert offlexible plastic material adapted for snap-in-place assembly with theneck portion of a metal collapsible tube having axial iiutes therein anda retaining ring adjacent the base thereof, said outsert comprising asleeve portion for embracing, overlying and enclosing the neck portionof the tube and having cap attachment means on its exterior surface andaxial tooth'means on its interior surface meshable with said neckportion utes and slidable therein to prevent relative rotation betweensaid outsert and said tube neck portion, an interior peripheral lockingbead adjacent the lower end of said sleeve portion and having a minimumdiameter less than the maximum diameter of the retaining ring on theneckportion, and an inwardly directed flange at the upper end of said sleeveportion for concealing the free end of the neck portion of the tube.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 in which the ends of said teethremote from the flange are rounded to provide for automatically guidingthe teeth into meshing relation with the tube neck flutes.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,794,574 Mcoeorge et a1. June 4, 1957 2,829,802 Pauu Apr. s, s f2,844,290 Slade July 22, 195s fea-M

1. THE COMBINATION OF A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE UNIT COMPRISING A METAL BODYHAVING A BREAST AND NECK PORTION INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREWITH, AND ANOUTSERT OF RESILIENT PLASTIC MATERIAL ATTACHED TO SAID TUBE UNIT, ANDEMBRACING OVERLYING AND ENCLOSING THE NECK PORTION THEREOF, SAID OUTSERTBEING SEATED AT ONE END UPON SAID BREAST PORTION AND AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDUPON SAID NECK PORTION, PREFORMED TOOTHED MEANS ON SAID NECK PORTION ANDOUTSERT PROVIDING A 360 DEGREE ASSEMBABLE MUTUAL INTERFITTINGRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID NECK PORTION AND THEINNER SURFACE OF SAID OUTSERT, PREVENTING RELATIVE ROTATION THEREOF, ANDMEANS PROVIDING A SNAP-TOGETHER LOCKING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID OUTSERTAND SAID NECK PORTION.